Carrying out a literature review? Here are some questions to ask, whilst reading.
I wanted to share an idea with you today, that I’ve found useful as a research student. I’m a real bookworm, reading a few books each week. You’ll often find my head buried in a book!
Something that I’ve always done ever since my first degree was to make my own bookmarks and use them for revision. I’d print out onto thin card, facts to remember, words and translation if I’m learning a foreign language etc and laminate the card. Everytime, I picked up the book to read, I’d read the bookmark.
When I was carrying out my literature review for my PhD, I made myself a bookmark to remind myself of questions to ask whilst I’m reading. Here’s my checklist:
Briefly describe the focus of the research
Summarise the information provided about methods of research employed
List the main sources of data used by the author(s) and say how they gained access to them
Identify the concepts used in the analysis of data
What would you say are the main points of X’s theory.Assess how well the evidence supports the claims, and consider whether there are any alternative interpretations of that evidence which seem more plausible than those of the authors
Do you agree/disagree with the author?
If you agree with X, can you identify any parts of the theory that are problematic and can you identify the problem(s)? How can you reconcile the problem(s) in a way that enables you to continue to agree?
If you disagree with X, can you identify any part(s) of the theory that seem plausible? How does identifying something to agree with affect your view of what’s left?
Can you think of any other commentators who support X’s views?
Can you say how?
Can you think of any other commentators whose views are in conflict with those of X?
Can you say how?
Why not give it a try?
Further Reading
A useful book to read for carrying out a literature review is “Doing a Literature Review” by Chris Hart.
There is a criteria for assessing a master’s dissertation on pages 17-18 which I thought was a good checklist. On page 49, there’s a table on issues and options in research design which is helpful.
Paged 30-31 has a set of useful questions to ask when carrying out a literature review and some useful charts to follow when carrying out a review on pages 34-35.
Additional Questions
What are the key sources?
What are the major issues and debates about the topic?
What are the political standpoints?
What are the origins and definitions of the topic?
What are the key theories, concepts and ideas?
Waht are the epistemological and ontological grounds for discipline?
What are the main questions and problems that have been addressed to date?
How is knowledge on the topic structure and organised?
Is the information properly reference
Does the author show developments in the field?
Is it sufficiently up-to-date?
If it is a research report, how valid is the methodology and can you trust the results?
Is there a bias – political, personal – that affects the way the information is presented?
If it is a discursive paper, does it give a balanaced view of the topic?
If it is a web resource, is it clear who is responsible for it?
If it has been cited who has it been cited by and where?
There’s also a useful table on pages 46-47 which details all the different types of research.
This resource by New South Wales University website on getting started with your literature review; shows a useful diagram to have to hand which is adapted from Hart’s book.
You may also like to read:
How to Book Blitz
Functions of a Literature Review
Critical Reading